For the "Old School" Dallas Cowboys fan or Football Fan...

[Blue Meanie]

Why is Drew Pearson NOT in the Football Hall Of Fame??!!?? I did a side by side comparison stats wise and he has better stats than Lynn Swann who IS in the Hall Of Fame. IMHO, if it weren't for the fact that Lynn Swann had a BETTER Wide Receiver opposite him in John Stallworth...he wouldn't even be able to hold Pearson's Jock...let alone be in the Football Hall Of Fame. Here are the stats:

Drew Pearson

Lynn Swann's Stats:

Lynn Swann: Career Stats

[MIB41]

I'm from that old school. I've been a Cowboys fan since 1970 and I can't tell you how many times Drew Pearson was the "go-to" receiver when Staubach needed a big play. Danny White had his share as well until Pearson's untimely retirement in '83. I marveled at it and played football because of Dallas. But unfortunately the Football Hall of Fame is just as political as the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. It's a bunch of good ole' boy's who have their personal favorites. Actually it wasn't that long ago when Lynn Swann was absent from the "Hall" as well. So I imagine it's just a matter of time before Pearson finds his way in there. Had he made those big plays in Dallas' five Superbowl appearances in the 70's, perhaps he would be there now and Steelers fans would be complaining about Swann. I think that is the big distinction. I'm not saying it's fair, but in the minds of those who vote, they probably see it that way. Look at Steve Young. He gets in on his first try for ONE Superbowl, while Aikman gets in on his first try for THREE, most of which came at Young's expense and embarrassment. Seems to me Young should still be waiting. I think he's just one of the good ole' boys with the press, so they let him in early. It's all BS...

[Blue Meanie]

The thing that I can't stand that I've heard is that there are "Too Many Cowboys" in the Hall of fame and that's one of the reasons for players like Pearson not getting in. That's just absurd. A player should be penalized for being on one of the 2 great teams of the 70's (Steelers is the other team) ...that's just dumb.

A side note...does Dallas retire any numbers??? It really irks me when I see Bobby Carpenter running around in Randy White's Jersey.

[MIB41]

Nope. Dallas has never retired any numbers. ZERO. Look at Emmitt Smith. Number 22 was originally Bob Hayes. Drew Bledsoe had #11, which was Danny White's number. And, of course, Michael Irvin got Drew Pearson's number, 88.

[Marvelmania]

Grew up a Redskins fan so I naturally hate the Cowboys. That being said a great player is a great player so yes Pearson should be in there. Hopefully he'll get his due in the near future.

[saildog]

A side note...does Dallas retire any numbers??? It really irks me when I see Bobby Carpenter running around in Randy White's Jersey.

Dallas, instead, opts for the Ring of Honor....and the bigger travesty is that Drew Pearson hasn't even merited THAT honor ......
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas_..._Ring_of_Honor

Little known facts about Pearson:

In High School, he was a QB at South River High School (New Jersey) and succeeded Joe Theismann as the starter.

He was elected to the 1970s All-Decade Team as WR (Lynn Swann was the other WR). He is one of only two players on that honorary team not in the Hall of Fame....the other being fellow Dallas Cowboy Cliff Harris (Safety) who IS in the Dallas Ring of Honor.
National Football League 1970s All-Decade Team - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Heck, 17 of the Second Teamers on that list are in the Hall of Fame.

Drew Pearson was on the receiving end of the original Hail Mary pass (popularization of the term in the press).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_Mary_(famous_play)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQfyJBJoLQs

Documented speculation as to why Pearson hasn't merited inclusion in the Ring of Honor...
Is Drew Pearson paying the Ring of Honor price for a 1993 business decision?

[toys2cool]

there's a ton of players deserving of the award

[saildog]

there's a ton of players deserving of the award

Absolutely.....but if you look at that all decade team (including the second stringers), you have to wonder why Pearson hasn't rated.

The bigger thing is why he hasn't even been honored by the Cowboys.

I'm telling you, there is something to this....like someone has something on him or he said the wrong thing to someone at a cocktail party. The Cowboys back in those days were very into a squeaky clean image (not so much when Irvin came along....apparently. Chicago had the 'Fridge and Dallas had a Coke Machine...so the joke goes.).

[Adam West]

Being a Redskin fan also, it always bothered me that Art Monk was constantly being overlooked for induction and he had record breaking stats in the NFL.

Probably just like Drew Pearson, Art Monk was overshadowed by some of his teammates like John Riggins and Darrell Green.

I always loved the way he would score touchdown after touchdown and don't recall him ever spiking the ball just tossing it to the ref like he was used to being there. He wasn't flamboyant in any way and I suspect that is also another reason why he was constantly overlooked.

Pearson will make it there someday. Unfortunately, it may be a posthumous honor.

[jds1911a1]

There is one big difference between drew and Lynn and that is the # of rings and often in the popularity poll that is HOF voting it's the rings not the stats that make the difference. Lynn was on a team that one 4 superbowls, Drew appeared was only on the winning side 1 time.

Lynn didn't get in for almost 20 years after his first year of eligibility (and his fame has continued since his playing days as a sideline commentator that' couldn't hurt him either)

Steve Young only won 1 on his own BUT he also rode along the bench for 2 more (ie 3 rings) was the superbowl mvp in 95 and was nfl mvp that can trump stats
he was a USFL guy he was mostly a back up so his stats should have been light but:
He completed 2,667 of 4,149 passes for 33,124 yards and 232 touchdowns, with 107 interceptions.
43 rushing touchdowns were more than Gale Sayers and the most by a qb at the time.
96.8 career passer rating was the highest in NFL history at the time
4,239 rushing yards were the second most ever gained by a quarterback, behind Randall Cunningham.

and even elway for all his stats wasn't a "winner" till he won 2 superbowls to offset his 4 beat downs in the 80's superbowls

[Blue Meanie]

There is one big difference between drew and Lynn and that is the # of rings and often in the popularity poll that is HOF voting it's the rings not the stats that make the difference. Lynn was on a team that one 4 superbowls, Drew appeared was only on the winning side 1 time.

Lynn didn't get in for almost 20 years after his first year of eligibility (and his fame has continued since his playing days as a sideline commentator that' couldn't hurt him either)

4 Rings is all fine and good...but IMHO 2000 more receiving yards than Swann in 2 less years of playing in the NFL should trump the fact that Pearson only won 1 Ring. 2000 yards is like 2 complete seasons to players these days...but back in the day it was about 3 - 4 seasons...that's got to account for something. Don't get me wrong...there are a lot of players that are worth of Football Hall Of Fame...but Pearson is a no brainer when you compare him with the Wide Receivers of his time.

Art Monk should be in also...that's surprising that he's not in yet.

[jds1911a1]

4 Rings is all fine and good...but IMHO 2000 more receiving yards than Swann in 2 less years of playing in the NFL should trump the fact that Pearson only won 1 Ring. 2000 yards is like 2 complete seasons to players these days...but back in the day it was about 3 - 4 seasons...that's got to account for something. Don't get me wrong...there are a lot of players that are worth of Football Hall Of Fame...but Pearson is a no brainer when you compare him with the Wide Receivers of his time.

Art Monk should be in also...that's surprising that he's not in yet.

objectively probably so but sadly the voting is subjective by a group of sports writers only so back to my comment it's a popularty contest like getting elected king of the prom or class president

I know Tommy Mcdonald personally and he didn't get in till 30 years later as a senior indictee in 98

[Adam West]

Art Monk finally did get inducted last year.

I am not real familiar with exactly how they decide who gets in any particular year but I think there is a pool of players being considered and then a short list. The individuals (living HOF's and others that are allowed to vote) then take their top picks from the short list and I believe the HOF only inducts so many individuals per year.

Art Monk was on the short list almost every single year since he first became eligible but was always looked over for someone else. He never publicly said anything about it (which is very typical of him and why he is well liked) but I imagine it must have been heart wrentching to sit on the short list year after year and not make it.

I'm glad that sometimes good guys do finish first.

[megojim]

Great thread . . . . Pearson was always a favorite of mine . . .the Art Monk argument is a good one as well . . . . I would like to see Ray Guy in the HOF too . . talk about someone who changed the position man he could thump that pill!

BTW on the Bobby Carpenter thing . . . . a local radio guy has given him the nickname "Barbie" and you should here them talk about all his miscues! it's really funny . . .

[Wee67]

As long as they never let anybody wear the number 12 again!